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Sharing the Load manual

This manual is a guide to improving the welfare of working animals through collective action, while taking into account the context of different target populations in terms of welfare risks to working animals and the vulnerability of their owners’ livelihoods.

This publication documents our experience of working with animal owning communities. It is intended to help community facilitators stimulate collective action for improved animal welfare through a series of practical steps and tools.

How Sharing the Load began

Since 2005 we have been integrating animal welfare science with human development methodology.

Our research led to a process where people in the community were able to identify the signs of positive and negative animal welfare. Based on their welfare assessment, the group could agree on both individual and collective action to improve the welfare of animals owned by group members and monitor progress towards this goal.

The aim is to empower communities to make sustainable improvements to the welfare of their working animals by developing methods they can undertake themselves.